San Juan, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a third superseding indictment against six individuals for conspiring to distribute controlled substances, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez Vélez, Federal Bureau of Investigation for the District of Puerto Rico.
Four of these individuals, Luis Carmona Bernacet, alias “Canito Cumbre”; Yadiel Serrano Canales, alias “Motombo”; Rolando Rivera Solís; and Alex Burgos Amaro, alias “Yogui” face a charge of using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime that resulted in the murder of banker Maurice Spagnoletti.
The FBI was in charge of the investigation with the assistance of the Puerto Rico Police.
The indictment alleges that from 2000 to 2014, in the municipalities of San Juan, Trujillo Alto, Guaynabo and Bayamón, the defendants Luis Carmona Bernacet, alias “Canito Cumbre”; Yadiel Serrano Canales, alias “Motombo”; Alan Lugo Montalvo, alias “Allan Lugo Montalvo”; Fabiany Almestica Monge; Rolando Rivera Solís; and Alex Burgos Amaro, alias “Yogui” possessed with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana.
The charges three, four and five include the use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime that resulted in murder, in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 924(j)(1). The charges three and four accuse Carmona Bernacet of the murders of William Castro on December 30, 2002 and René Cruz on December 6, 2006, respectively.
In relation to the murder of Maurice Spagnoletti detailed in charge five, the grand jury indicted Carmona Bernacet, Serrano Canales, Rivera Solís and Burgos Amaro for in concert and in common agreement advising, commanding, inducing, procuring, and using firearms during and in relation to a narcotics trafficking crime, and in the course of that crime, murdered Maurice Spagnoletti.
Rosa Emilia Rodríguez Vélez, Federal Bureau of Investigation for the District of Puerto Rico stated, “Law enforcement agencies federal and state worked tirelessly during the investigation of this violent criminal organization, whose members are responsible for at least three murders, one of which was the murder of banker Maurice Spagnoletti in 2011.”
“The charges of today demonstrate our continued commitment to eliminating the most violent offenders from our communities and bringing them to justice. The investigation continues despite today presenting an indictment on the murder of Maurice Spagnoletti,” she added.
Douglas A. Leff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, San Juan Division declared, “The prosecutors and agents remained unbreakable in their unrelenting dedication to seeing these cruel murders resolved. While the unimaginable pain of the victims’ families will never be eliminated, the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families has brought these perpetrators to justice.”
The defendants are currently facing charges in federal court.
Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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